Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ford Foundation’s New Leader Is From Yale Law School

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Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Jul 1

Heather Gerken, dean of the Yale Law School, to become president of the Ford Foundation later this year. The right leader at the right time! @fordfoundation.org @heathergerken.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/u...

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Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Jun 20

Please join us on June 24! @impactalpha.com @oppfinance.bsky.social @innovateeconomy.bsky.social @usimpinvalliance.bsky.social #impinv #econdev

ImpactAlpha @impactalpha.com · Jun 19

☎️ @oppfinance.bsky.social's Dafina Williams, Ceres’ Andrew Collier, Mindset's Heather Slavkin, Catherine Lyons of @innovateeconomy.bsky.social and @franseegull.bsky.social of the US Impact Investing Alliance map the new policy landscape.

#RSVP for our June 24 call.

us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

TIME100 Most Influential People in Philanthropy 2025

Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Jun 4

Congratulations @palfrey.org and @darrencwalker.bsky.social‬ for your well-deserved recognition on this year’s #Time100PhilanthropyList. You are true visionaries in your leadership across both philanthropy and impact investing!

Read the full list: time.com/collections/...

TIME’s inaugural list featuring new leaders in philanthropy that are eager to see impact and see it now

time.com

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Reposted by Fran Seegull

U.S. Impact Investing Alliance @usimpinvalliance.bsky.social · May 7

ICYMI: The Administration’s budget proposes cutting funding for the CDFI Fund. Given the CDFI Fund’s track record of bipartisan support, we're hopeful Congress will continue to champion the critical program.

More from @franseegull.bsky.social in @impactalpha.com: impactalpha.com/bipartisan-l...

Bipartisan lawmakers are rallying for CDFIs, investors need to do the same

Understand the threats to community investing policies under Trump and how they affect essential financial support for communities.

Unite in Advance: Philanthropy Coalition Launches Solidarity Campaign - Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly

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Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Apr 10

Inspired to see leaders across philanthropy stand up for the freedoms to speak, give and invest, which are cornerstones of how we build strong, thriving communities. nonprofitquarterly.org/unite-in-adv... @jpalfrey.bsky.social @macfound.bsky.social

We’re announcing a public sign-on statement to support philanthropy’s freedom to give. We are united to protect our freedom to express ourselves, to give, and to invest in our communities. Join us by ...

nonprofitquarterly.org

Bipartisan lawmakers are rallying for CDFIs, investors need to do the same

Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Apr 8

CDFIs are engines of economic growth, fueling small businesses & local communities. A recent EO threatens the CDFI Fund, but bipartisan lawmakers are standing up for it. Investors must do the same!

Read my @impactalpha.com post on why this matters: impactalpha.com/bipartisan-l... #impinv #econdev

Understand the threats to community investing policies under Trump and how they affect essential financial support for communities.

Pension Funds Push Forward on Climate Goals Despite Backlash

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Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Apr 2

Join the conversation with this impact and sustainable investing starter pack. These leaders and leading organizations share their insights on #impinv #impactinvesting #econdev #climatefinance and more. go.bsky.app/P57DXzQ

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Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Mar 29

Pension funds fiduciaries consider the financial relevance of climate so they can prudently manage risk and assure long-term value for pensioners.

At a time of resistance to environmental, social and governance goals, pension funds have become a bulwark against efforts to sideline climate risks.

@oppfinanceceo.bsky.social @markwarner.bsky.social @mikecrapo.bsky.social

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Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Mar 26

Honored to be included in the latest @sorensonimpact.bsky.social report on 5 key trends shaping the impact investing field. #impinv #econdev @usimpinvalliance.bsky.social

Access the full report here: sorensonimpactinstitute.com/impact-inves...

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Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Mar 21

Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Mar 21

CDFIs drive inclusive economic growth, but a new executive order could undermine the agency that supports their work. This @pioneerspost.bsky.social article breaks down the risks, bipartisan pushback & why protecting these institutions matters. @usimpinvalliance.bsky.social @oppfinance.bsky.social

Trump order threatens to ‘cut legs out from’ CDFI Fund, say campaigners

Campaigners shocked as one of the US president’s latest executive orders could slash work of community development financial institutions, which offer capital to underserved entrepreneurs and business...

U.S. Impact Investing Alliance Calls on Policymakers to Support the CDFI Fund — U.S. Impact Investing Alliance

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Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Mar 18

CDFIs fuel small businesses, homeownership & local economies. A recent Executive Order threatens the Treasury’s CDFI Fund, putting these investments at risk. We urge policymakers to protect this vital agency. Read our statement below. #econdev #CDFI @usimpinvalliance.bsky.social

The U.S. Impact Investing Alliance advocates for shared prosperity, accelerated by investments in robust pathways for economic mobility and opportunity. Community development financial institutions (C...

impinvalliance.org

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Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Mar 17

The CDFI fund is under threat via an EO issued on Friday. This @impactalpha.com piece highlights the community’s bipartisan mobilization to defend CDFIs that across the country lend to local health centers, affordable housing, daycare centers, small businesses and more.

Threat to CDFI Fund gives community lenders a chance to flex bipartisan support

A whirlwind weekend mobilization in response to President Trump’s order to shut down a Treasury Department fund for low-income community lenders has produced ...

Climate United Sues E.P.A. Over Frozen $20 Billion

Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Mar 10

Climate United seeks to unfreeze $20B of capital disbursed for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. @climateunited.bsky.social @bethbaff.bsky.social

In a lawsuit, Climate United claims the E.P.A. is illegally withholding funds that have become a target of the Trump administration.

2024 Annual Highlights — U.S. Impact Investing Alliance

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Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Feb 21

Impact investing is at a crossroads and in the crosshairs. There will be trials ahead, but the lessons of 2024 have strengthened our resolve. Read more about the @usimpinvalliance.bsky.social work in 2024 and how we navigated a pivotal year in partnership with many. #impinv

Annual Highlights

impinvalliance.org

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Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Feb 8

Sobering: The implications of the USAID shutdown on the global #impinv ecosystem.

USAID shutdown ‘undermines global impact investing ecosystem’

As Donald Trump pulls the plug on the world’s largest aid donor, the impact investing community warns the existing funding gap to meet the SDGs will widen by billions of dollars. But is China now pois...

Opinion | The New Evidence Climate Change Will Upend American Homeownership

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Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Feb 5

Climate change as a systemic risk in action. “Altadena may prove to be the true harbinger of a future in which no one but the rich owns their own homes, where insurance is a luxury good & where renters pay a monthly toll to large PE landowners who may be better suited to manage that risk.”

A new analysis predicts an extraordinary reversal in housing fortunes for Americans.

‘Blended finance has fallen short’ – UN briefing

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Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Jan 24

New UN report by @mazzucatom.bsky.social on blended finance. “In practice, concessional public finance is leveraging non-concessional public finance to support private initiatives, with limited participation from de-risked private capital”. @pioneerspost.bsky.social #impinv #econdev

Award-winning economist Mariana Mazzucato says blended finance is not the promised ‘silver bullet’ in scathing UN policy briefing which argues it fails to mobilise enough private investment to meet th...

A Lesson on Philanthropy From Martin Luther King Jr.

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Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Jan 22

Welcome! Adding you to the #impinv starter pack.

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Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Jan 20

“Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.” MLK, Jr. Lifting this short, powerful piece by @darrencwalker.bsky.social from 2020. #racialjustice #impinv #philanthropy

The president of the Ford Foundation shares the biggest lesson he's learned about giving

time.com

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Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Jan 17

Thanks for including me, @pioneerspost.bsky.social!

Impact leaders’ 2025 predictions: what will matter most this year

Fran Seegull @franseegull.bsky.social · Jan 17

Honored to be featured in @pioneerspost.bsky.social alongside global #impinv leaders sharing predictions for the field in 2025. My take? We need to focus on real-world impacts like clean air, thriving communities & economic security. #econdev @usimpinvalliance.bsky.social

From the ‘Coca-Cola risk’ to AI, leading social entrepreneurs, impact investors and network builders from across the world tell us what they're keeping an eye on in 2025. Make sure to read their analy...